Very few times in life do two friends establish goals in kindergarten and see them come to spectacular fruition later in life.

Then again, few young men are built with the talents and character of Pharoh Cooper and Kendal Vickers, both former state champions at Havelock High.

Cooper was the quarterback and MVP of the state championship game victory over Concord and MVP of the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas in 2012. Vickers was a standout defensive lineman and leading sacker on the vaunted Rams’ defense.

The pair left high school with two state titles and as foundation blocks of one of the more dynastic programs in North Carolina prep football.

Cooper ended his recruitment early, choosing to commit to South Carolina and coach Steve Spurrier a short time into his senior season at Havelock, while Vickers’ decision came down to timely recognition by the Vols’ staff.

Cooper has started for South Carolina on special teams as a punt returner, an area he excelled at as a Ram.

Vickers was asked to redshirt by new Tennessee coach Butch Jones, in an effort to gain weight and learn from some veterans.

“It’s a lot different. Everybody in high school had trouble catching me with my speed, but in the SEC, man, everybody is fast. Everybody is a Division-I, SEC player obviously and they are all good,” Cooper said.

Cooper has six carries for 71 yards out of the Wildcat formation for the Gamecocks on the season, but started returned punts when his Gamecocks fell to Vickers’ Vols on Oct. 19.

For Vickers, he has put on 29 pounds already and is receiving inspiring words from his coaches.

“When I got here, we went through camp and coach Jones said he wanted me to redshirt because he saw a future in me where I could get bigger, stronger and faster and get on the field next year,” Vickers said.

“It was tough because coming from Havelock and our success we had, I’m not used to not being on the field. I trust coach and lift four-to-five times a week, eat three big meals a day and run three times a week. He tells me all the time that ‘I am going to be good.’”

Tennessee’s win over the Gamecocks was the program’s first win over a ranked team since it beat South Carolina in 2009.

Vickers said it was as sweet as if he had been starting on defense to one up his good buddy.

“Beating SC and Pharoh, it was great for me,” Vickers said. “We always had the same goals since we were little kids, to play on the same college team and in the NFL. It didn’t work out quite that way with college, but we are friends and competitors.”

Page 2 of 2 - Cooper echoed the sentiments of his good pal.

“It was crazy seeing a boy I’ve grown up with, went to kindergarten with and be both on an SEC field,” Cooper said.

The rematch for the two buddies will be next year in Columbia, S.C.

Jordan Honeycutt can be reached at 252-635-5670 or at Jordan.Honeycutt@newbernsj.com. Follow Jordan on Twitter @JHONEYnbsj29